I can't afford to buy all Arc'Teryx gear and most of that is made in China now anyway so yes, US is local as far as I'm concerned. Our economies are pretty entangled although my main reason for wanting to buy closer to home is to reduce the number of cargo ships chugging across the ocean and so I can be sure that my bag wasn't stuffed by a 4 year old chained to a post.

FF or WM make great bags. I just brought a FF Swift and already have the slightly narrower Swallow. Built the Swift with Epic and ultralight liner (lighter than standard), overfill and removable collar for additional versatility. Same size and with FF and better yet, you can over fill, choose colors, and extras and at least you can choose Event or Epic outer fabric which both are a better with water management and durability than any of the outer fabrics of WM.

Just to clear things up about live plucked down. Down of 900 fill power or higher is live plucked, everything below that is not. Unless you are TNF and you claim to have 900 fill but its really about 750-800.

Mntngirl,
Just have to chime in here. I own two Marmot bags, used to sell them, and am very happy with their overall warmth, coziness, construction and quality. I don't own the Helium(have the pinnacle-a tad heavier), but have heard good things about it.
I know WM bags are fine also, but, despite what the Chief claims, they are more expensive. And, as far as the specs go, Marmot is right in there with their weights and roominess.
Good Luck!

For $$$ go for Synthetic. Can buy 3 synthetic bags for 1 good Down Bag.

Down: Don't buy REI whatever you do. Garbage. I bought one and was very sorry. Down died pronto. My marmot bag same rating and same "down" is just fine even though its been used far more and is far older.

My better half Penelope, 5'6", 128 Lbs. (in her fifties) has had the WM Ultralight for several years now. She loves the bag but only takes it on summer trips. She gets cold in it in shoulder season and in higher (above 11k) elevations, in fact about two years ago she purchased (on sale) Mountain Hardwear women's Phantom 0 rated bag for non-summer trips. She also has WM -20 rated bag for winter trips. I'm mentioning it, since the original post is from a woman and most men's sleeping bag ratings are of little use to women.

Vic Hanson wrote:I have the Helium and have been very happy with it, although it does get damp from condensation. I know the regular version (mens) comes in an EQ (waterproof) version, but that brings the weight up to 2 lb 5 oz and adds $70 to the price. I don't know if the women's version comes in EQ or not.

By the way Chief, MountaingirlBC is from Canada, so why should she buy something made in the U.S.? By your reasoning, she should only buy something made in Canada, or at the very least only with down from Canadian Honkers! edit - Oops, just noticed she mentioned buying something made locally too, so is the U.S. 'local' to a Canadian?

I bought a Phantom 15 several years ago at REI and have been happy with it so far. Although my intent was to use it in the Sierra I've taken it on several multiday trips in the Cascades (Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier, Washington Pass) and it's worked out fine in that relatively damp climate (OK, Washington Pass wasn't so damp, but Baker more than made up for it!). It's really light and packs down small, and I was toasty warm sleeping in the summit crater of Rainier when the temp was 15F inside the tent.

If I had known that Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering were US made I probably would have paid the premium for US-made, but IIRC the premium is significant. One of the few mountaineering benefits of being a middle aged guy is that I have more money to throw at problems than when I was younger.

Keep in mind that synthetic while it is cheaper a good down bag will out last a good synthetic bag by 10 years plus, or 3:1, so your still dollars ahead with a warmer, lighter, and more packable bag with a down bag.

If you don't need water proof but want almost water proof than Epic is the best outer fabric as it vents best. However, if you need or want water proof for high moisture and/or snow Event breaths better than Gore Dry loft and Dry Loft has a tendency to delaminate which is why several manufactures quit making bags ion Dry Loft including FF.

I have 2, used 5 days in perfect condition, -10 degree down bags with Dr Loft fabric, in long for storing stuff in the bottom, purple with black interior that I would consider selling. Opposing zippers so they zip together.

8kclimber wrote:Keep in mind that synthetic while it is cheaper a good down bag will out last a good synthetic bag by 10 years plus, or 3:1, so your still dollars ahead with a warmer, lighter, and more packable bag with a down bag.

If you don't need water proof but want almost water proof than Epic is the best outer fabric as it vents best. However, if you need or want water proof for high moisture and/or snow Event breaths better than Gore Dry loft and Dry Loft has a tendency to delaminate which is why several manufactures quit making bags ion Dry Loft including FF.

I have 2, used 5 days in perfect condition, -10 degree down bags with Dr Loft fabric, in long for storing stuff in the bottom, purple with black interior that I would consider selling. Opposing zippers so they zip together.

WM is going to have the best quality down on the planet. Their 850+ goose down is rated to the older more conservative down scale. It has been changed recently and unfortunately became a lot more liberal in its ratings. WM sent out a sample to get tested to the new "standard" and it came back "off the chart" and could therefore not be given a proper rating. Speaking with the owner he said he is continuing to stay the course with the older rating system because it is a more true and accurate system.

They are also all hand stuffed to order, and like previously stated 100% made in the USA. You just can't beat the quality. I would suggest the Versalite, but if room is more of an issue, I would say the Sequoia. It is a semi-retangular bag with a foot vent zipper which also enables it to zip out flat like a comforter. Both bags have continuous baffles which would allow you to shift down top to bottom depending on if you needed more/less warmth.

Another really good bag would be the Big Agnes Pomer Hoit. The design is awesome! Never roll off your pad again! I personally use a BA but nothing touches the quality of WM.

I'm going to do the three-seasons thing backwards, and use a cheap synthetic bag for warm summer nights, and a good down winter bag for fall/winter/spring. I'm a cold sleeper and really need my rest to perform well on the mountain, so I'm not willing to give up comfort for a few ounces or dollars.

Right now I'm looking hard at the WM Lynx GWS. I'm having some trouble swallowing the price, but it looks a lot better compared to a $400 winter bag and a $200 3-season bag.

I'm doing Rainier next July, and Mt. Washington (NH) in January, but we'll be in the cabin, not a tent. In general if it's really frickin' cold (sub-zero) I'll be in something better than a tent or bivvy sack, but I see a lot of 10-20º nights around here. Do you think this is a sufficiently warm bag, or maybe overkill?